Refutation of the Atomic theory.

If the world is created by the combination of atoms, the question is, what causes this combination ?

It is not possible before the creation of the body. A seen cause can either be an endeavour, or an impact, or the like. Unless there is connection of the soul with the mind, there can be no endeavour on the part of the soul, And since before creation there is no body and therefore no mind, endeavour cannot take place. Similarly with impact etc. If the cause is  the unseen principle, does it inhere in the soul or in the atoms ? In eithe case, it cannot be the cause of the first motion of the atoms; for this unseen is non-intelligent and so cannot act by itself. If it is inherent in the atoms, it being always present, a state of dissolution would be impossible, for, the atoms will be always active. Again, the soul is without parts like atoms and so there is no possibility of any connection between the soul and the atoms. Consequently, if the unseen inheres in the soul, it cannot influence the motion of the atoms not connected with the soul. So in all cases original activity in the atoms is not possible, and in the absence of that there can be no combination of atoms .

"The theory that the world is created by the combination of atoms is untenable."

The atoms are said to have colour etc., for otherwise the effects will not possess these qualities, since it is the qualities of the cause that are found in the effects. In that case the atoms would cease to be atomic and permanent.

For whatever possesses colour etc. is found to be gross, not minute, and impermanent as compared with its cause. So the atoms also, which have colour etc., must be gross and impermanent.

So the atoms cannot be the ultimate cause of the world.

The four gross elements earth, water, fire and air are produced from atoms. Now these elements are different as regards qualities. Earth, for example, has the qualities of touch, smell and colour, while water has only three of these, fire only two, and air one. If we suppose that their respective atoms also possess the same number of qualities as they, then while an atom of air has one quality, an atom of earth will have four qualities.

Possessing four qualities it will be bigger in size, for our experience says that an increase of qualities cannot take place without increase of size, and consequently it would cease to be atomic. If, on the other hand, we take them all to possess the same number of qualities, then there cannot be any difference in the qualities of the products, the elements according to the principle that the qualities of the cause are reproduced in its effects

In either case, the doctrine is deffective and therefore inadmissible.

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